Energy security: Growing awareness raises hopes

Dr B K Mukhopadhyay

It is good news indeed that 2014 was a record Year for renewables. The growth of renewable energy outpaced that of fossil fuels in the electricity sector last year, a new study shows. 51GW wind power addition was the biggest among renewable sources. 135GW power capacity was added from wind, solar, hydropower and other tural sources, accordingly. It is also pertinent to mention that a whopping $270 billon global investment was there in renewables.

As the matter stands now – renewables’ share in global power generation was at 28 percent, while renewable energy’s share in all forms of power consumption stood at 10 percent. Latest assessments also placed renewables’ share of global power capacity addition in 2014 at 60 percent. Current share of solar energy in global electricity production had touched1percent. Renewables’ usage in global road Transport stood at around 3percent. It is also heartening to note that 164 countries have set targets for renewable energy and 145 Countries have renewal energy policies in place.    

But the fact remains that the world energy markets continue to be vulnerable to disruptions precipitated by events ranging from geo-political strife to tural disasters.  Oil demand and imports continue to grow.  Energy security concerns go beyond oil. It is not forgotten that each barrel a country stores provides net global benefits averaging at least USD 41 per year after storage cost

The renewed awareness was long awaited.

IEA has nicely defined energy security as the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price. Energy security has many dimensions. Long term energy security refers to dealing with timely investments to supply energy in line with economic development and environmental needs, while short term counterpart focuses on the very ability of the energy system to respond instantly to sudden changes in the demand-supply balance.

A lot, side by side, depends on the implementation machinery in as much as planning experience clearly reflects the fact that either the plans are too optimistic and/or the implementation machinery has been far from being optimal.

So far solar energy is concerned the fact is to be noted also – as initial cost will be high especially if it is for grid power generation. Efforts should be there to minimize the same subsequently otherwise commercial use will pose a big problem. No doubt the blending of more expensive solar energy with cheaper thermal power will smoothen the way for tariff reduction ultimately.

Essentially, energy efficiency is a strategic issue in the development process and countries have necessarily to strive for building an energy efficient society. If we look at the global picture we could definitely locate that no country is energy – independent. Even Saudi Arabia – the world’s largest oil exporter imports refined petroleum products like gasoline. Gasoline is imported by UAF, Norway and also Nigeria, whereas tural gas is still imported by Russia and UAF and electricity and coal by Russia and Norway. Thus, the regions with abundant raw resources also rely on import of some form of energy.

Be that as it may, the fact remains that the vast majority of countries rely on a few energy-producing tions rich in hydrocarbon sources. Therefore, energy independence remains an unrealistic goal. Balancing the needs of the producers and consumers is thus as crucial as increasing the supply and curbing the demand. Remember, oil demand is projected to grow up to 115 million barrels per day (MBPD) by 2030 against 82 MBPD in 2004!

So far India is concerned it is to be kept in view that our oil reserves are estimated to be around 5.4 billion barrels (less then 0.5 per cent of the world oil reserves) and the tural gas reserves are of the order of one trillion cubic matters. India continues to be a net importer of energy, crude oil being the largest import-bill-eater. We are even importing coal. There remains a functiol market for fuels globally and as such any country is free to purchase its requirement at the price that the market determines from time to time. At the same time, uncertainties prevail. War, political turmoil, tural disasters, accidents and such other events block the supply line and affect the availability at affordable prices.

It is a well known fact today that energy security essentially means uninterrupted availability of energy for the economy at all times, at prices that are broadly in line with what the rest of the world pays. To counter adverse situations, some developed as well as developing economies resort to storing large quantities of fuels – oil and gas – in order to tide over the likely duration of any supply disruption. But the question remains: is it the solution? Temporarily these practitioners may counter the problem, but in the long run?

Problems are two-fold: in some vibrant areas a realistic approach is missing, or the works are not systematically carried on – lack of exact coordition, to be specific. So far as the indicator, per capita consumption of energy, is concerned, India has been among the lowest in the world. Side by side it is also a fact that we top the list when it comes to the use of energy per unit of GDP. Power theft is silently tolerated!

Close technical cooperation with the neighboring economies emerges to be the crucial thing, which, in turn, will benefit all of the parties concerned.

Full-fledged cooperation among the major energy consuming tions in the matter of development and exploiting energy resources, especially in energy conservation, improvement of energy efficiency, development of altertive energy resources as well as environmental protection concerning energy utilization and filly contribution towards maintaining the stability and security of intertiol energy supply, is the real way out.

For that matter, no doubt, efforts must be made to promote the use of solar, wind and tidal energy, biomass and other renewable energy sources, especially keeping in mind the fact that the demand for petroleum products in a number of countries has been growing. There are obviously multiple elements to address the issue of securing energies. Minimizing the size of strategic reserves – diversifying the geography of supply sources and the modes of fuel transport- are the other altertives. The need for technological innovations is very high and we need to find ways and means to reduce the space intensity of current solar applications, including the use of no-technology.

In fact we have to take a comprehensive view. Global energy security depends on so many factors – flow of investment and expertise, innovation, prosperity and high per capita energy availability, among others. One has to diversify energy supplies, find more traditiol fuels, and at the same time develop altertives. Needless to say that without involving all the countries, lasting solution would remain far from being achievable.

That is why a comprehensive policy duly covering all of the vital areas such as nuclear energy tapping, minimization of transmission loss, and emphasis on renewable energy sources, can help us inch forward towards self-reliance in energy.

(The Writer, a noted Magement Economist and an Intertiol Commentator on contemporary business and economic affairs, attached to The West Bengal State University, can be reached at m.bibhas@gmail.com)

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